Overview & Reviews

The Pontiac brand is part of the General Motors family, and is home to many of the automaker's more performance-oriented vehicles. Currently, the marque offers a broad range of sporty cars and SUVs. However, as part of GM's restructuring plan, the brand is slated to be discontinued by the end of the 2010 model year.

Pontiac originated as the Oakland Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan, in 1907; it was founded by Edward Murphy. Acquired by General Motors in 1909, Oakland introduced the first Pontiac vehicle in 1926. Dubbed the "Chief of the Sixes," the car was powered by a six-cylinder engine and made its debut at that year's New York auto show. It was so successful that the Oakland name was phased out in favor of Pontiac, the name of an 18th-century chief of the Ottawa Indians. Throughout the 1930s and '40s Pontiac made coupes, sedans and wagons in the low-to-mid price ranges. A unique styling cue of Pontiac cars from the mid-'30s to the mid-'50s was known as "Silver Streak," a set of art-deco-inspired chrome "speed lines" that ran up over the length of the hood to the base of the windshield.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the Pontiac Bonneville. The sprawling, stylish cruiser offered equal measures of performance and luxury, and was a breakout hit. But it wasn't until the 1960s that the Pontiac brand truly came into its own. American manufacturers had begun to offer downsized alternatives to the gigantic cruisers that had ruled the highways in previous decades. Pontiac came to market with the compact Tempest. In 1964, Pontiac made its biggest impact yet with the creation of the GTO option for the Tempest. By equipping the car with the powerful 389 cubic-inch V8 from the full-size car line, Pontiac created the first "muscle car." Phenomenally successful, the GTO helped define the burgeoning muscle car category. Pontiac also saw tremendous success during the latter part of this decade with its Firebird and Firebird Trans Am.

The oil crisis of the '70s made fuel efficiency a priority for many car buyers. Following the lead of its GM siblings, Pontiac made compact vehicles like the Ventura and Phoenix a major part of its lineup. The '80s saw the launch of the two-seat Pontiac Fiero. Despite its modest beginnings (it was initially marketed as a "commuter car"), the Fiero eventually blossomed into a credible sports car.

The '90s saw the launch of Pontiacs like the Sunfire and Montana minivan. Pontiac has slowly lost sales due to changing tastes and a lack of differentiation between its models and those of other GM divisions. In hopes of recapturing past glory, the division embarked on a plan to retire aged models and introduce all-new ones with distinctive styling and personality. For a while, the effort seemed to be bearing fruit. New models like the Vibe, Solstice and G8 made Pontiac a brand to consider in many segments. However, GM's financial troubles in 2008 and 2009 have resulted in the company's decision to phase out Pontiac as a brand. It's expected 2010 will be Pontiac's last year for new models.

User Reviews:

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  Fun 2 drive terrible to fix - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By PEB - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car when it was about 3 years old. The car has good power and great excelleration, good to great handling depending on your tire selection. Electrical problems and nickle and dime repairs has plagued this car though.

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  Fast, Fun, but cheap interior feel... - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By John Mckee - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive and it is very forgiving and responsive at high speeds. The interior layout is excellent as far as the driver controls and my only complaint would be the cheap feel of the interior construction. If you are gong to get one of these (and I highly recommend it) you have to get the GTP with comp group "G". If you dont you will be sorry. I look forward to driving this car everyday, even to the store just to buy milk! The car is flat out FUN and will smoke the tires through an intersection if that is what you like to do, and that is with the traction control on. GM designers know what car enthusiasts like and they built it!

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  GM retired a powerhouse - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By zaranjjt - October 1 - 8:42 pm

  Bought the car in 2005 with 6k on it.Its now around 114k and still running splendidly.Never really had any major problems until last year when I accidentally hit a curb. Soon after had to replace tie rods, brakes found leaks in the coolant tank and power steering reservoirs. Got them all replaced at around 5k, now the car runs like smooth as silk. Even now i get a thrill out of an early morning acceleration rush. the a/c brings temperatures to polar regions in the peak Texan summer effortlessly. The car used to sheer through Michigan snows without so much as a sway. Many friends who had Hondas and Infinitis would ride with me because the stability of the Grand Prix in those conditions.

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  My 3rd Bonnevile - 2001 Pontiac Bonneville
  By rolka57 - September 30 - 10:00 am

  I have owned Bonnevilles for 10 years now. I particularly love the looks and comfort of the SLE. It is quick and fun to drive yet exceptionally comfortable. However, it performs so poorly in the snow even though I have ABS and traction control. The dealer says it is the size of the tires as I had no problems with my 94 and 97 SEs. Living in the northeast I cannot go another winter with this car I love and am looking at AWD cars now.

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  This Grand Am is a LEMON!!!!! - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Smom - September 30 - 10:00 am

  This 2002 Grand Am GT was an awesome car until it got approx. 25,000miles on it. I have had nothing but problems with the brakes, and I have had it in the dealership 8 times until they have just recently fixed the problem, unfortunately it took them 8 times to get it right. I would never recommend the Grand Am to anyone, and I have owned another Grand Am before.

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  Great First Car - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By MisterMarq - September 24 - 8:23 am

  This was my first car. In terms of reliability it was flawless. I drove the car into high mileage territory and always used high mileage oil when getting it changed. The first major hiccup started just recently when the on-board computer started triggering the security switch in the middle of driving - causing the engine to stop. But mechanically its always just hummed along.

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  Better than Camry - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By flat pita - September 23 - 4:36 am

  When value is important G6 wins. Very tight ride beats the Camry which was tested on the same day. The driver seat is excellent and has very good lower back support.

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  Its been nice - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By sadiesangel - September 20 - 9:23 am

  I have had my Torrent for 3+ years now and for the most part have loved it. I have been told that they are discontinuing this model which is upsetting. I have had some problems with parts/repairs. Wished it had a 5 year/100,000 warranty. I dont think the 3 year/36,000 covers long enough.

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  Florida Dads Follow Up Review - 2005 Pontiac Montana
  By Florida Dad2 - September 18 - 12:13 pm

  Weve now had this van for a full year. Generally, were still quite satisfied with the van, its comfort and quality. The leather has held up well, the DVD player is more popular than ever and the AC blows like a January blizzard. However (oops, theres that word...) a few minor things have cropped up in the past year including a powered door that stopped working, brake trouble (not serious )a loose trim piece covering the sliding doors track and a radio that switches stations w/o warning (only happens on one certain frequency ...huh?) All fixed quickly and cheerfully and under warranty, but should these have happened in the first place?

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  04 GTO experiences - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By GTOfan - September 18 - 12:50 am

  While some dislike the body style as "bland", I found it to be exactly what I wanted - no fake fender vents, no exaggerated body lines. Since the car was only built in high-performance versions, there are no "Barbie-Doll" GTOs out there like the Mustang. If you see a GTO, you know its hot. You dont have to check for a medallion or emblem on the fender. And the "plain" appearance makes it less likely that anyone will be able to identify the car as they watch your taillights disappear over the horizon. :)